474 court rulings issued remotely in UAE amid coronavirus pandemic

UAE - An Abu Dhabi court has issued rulings and sentences in hundreds of cases remotely through video-conferencing over a period of two months.

Authorities said the Abu Dhabi Appeals Court, with its civil, administrative, rental and personal status chambers, issued 474 rulings through the video-conferencing technology to accomplish the litigation process during March and April. The initiative is in accordance with the objective of sustaining all judicial services under the current circumstances.

Figures released by the court shows that 585 appeal cases had been filed before the office of Case Preparation Management through the video communication technology within a period of two months.

Counsellor Yousef Saeed Al Ebri, undersecretary of the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, said the adoption of remote litigation in various courts and judicial chambers has achieved a qualitative shift, which reflects the wise vision of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, to develop and implement a leading judicial system that keeps pace with the latest regulations and ensures the achievement of justice.

"We have integrated work in all sectors and departments in the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department to attain this system and accomplish the various judicial processes remotely, with 100 per cent access to the trial management system for litigants and the possibility of the attendance of the case parties, in accordance with the legislation and procedures applied," said Al Ebri.

The official explained that the judicial department's staff had worked to establish the technical mechanism and provide programmes that would ensure video communication with all parties, and to submit their notes and documents electronically, thus ensuring the right of litigation, achieving effective justice and continuity of business under the current circumstances.